State Farm Arena to host WNBA Game 6 matinee Thursday

Game 6 of the WNBA Finals will take place at Atlanta's State Farm Arena on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN reported Monday.

The matinee allows the NBA's Atlanta Hawks to play their scheduled game against the Cleveland Cavaliers that night, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Without an agreement to play at the Hawks' 17,000 seat arena, Thursday's game between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries would have been held at the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena in suburban College Park, Ga.

"The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we're excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line," said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta."

Thursday's doubleheader follows the same format as Saturday, when the Valkyries posted a 67-62 win against the Dream during an afternoon tilt at State Farm Arena to even the series at 2-2, thereby guaranteeing a Game 6. The Hawks defeated the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

Game 5 is Monday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, which would also host Game 7 on Saturday if necessary.

--Field Level Media